Ticket vending machine

ABSTRACT

A coin-released vending machine for tickets having means for dispensing a ticket each time the machine is operated, means for preventing more than one ticket from being dispensed during each operation, and means for preventing a ticket from being drawn out of the machine if it is not released by the desired coin or coins.

United States Patent 1191 Cresswell-Clough Aug. 7, 1973 [5 TICKETVENDING MACHINE 1,719,497 7/1929 Bell 194/010. 9

[76] Inventor: Derrick Cresswell-Clough, 786 I Goldstream Dr., Richmond,B.C., Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg CanadaAttorney-Fetherst0nhaugh & Co. [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1971 [2]] App]. No.:195,998 [57] ABSTRACT A coin-released vending machine i or ticketshaving means for dispensing a ticket each time the machine is Fi d 9 DIG8 operated, means for preventing more than one ticket e o a c from beingdispensed during each operation, and means for preventing a ticket frombeing drawn out of Reerences Cited the machine if it is not released bythe desired coin or coins. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,048,070 8/1962 Grovesl94/2 X 21 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures o O o o a Q I0 [D 9 30 U 70 I 7/k6] j E o I I I \Q\\ gag 4 5 J I6 23% 29 F /8p 1 1 '74 Pmmwm mu sum 2 or3 3-750-790 TICKET VENDING MACHINE This invention relates to acoin-released machine for vending tickets, and particularly parkingtickets,'one at a time.

Although this machine may be used for dispensing any desired kind ofticket, it is particularly designed for parking tickets, and it is, forthe sake of convenience, described herein in connection with this typeof ticket. Parking ticket vending machines are employed on parking lotsin order to avoid the necessity of keeping full-time employees on thelot. A person entering the parking lot deposits the required coin orcoins in the vending machine and gets a parking ticket, which is left inhis vehicle where it can be seen to indicate that he has paid theparking fee. A person making periodic checks on the lot can seewhethereach vehicle has a parking ticket therein.

The prior art includes a number of machines for dispensing parkingtickets. However, most of theseare comparatively complicatedandtl'ierefore quite expen sive. Some of the simple? machines have theproblem that a person if he can insert a flat instrument through adispensing slot can grip a ticket and pull it out without paying thefee.

A vending machine according to the present invention is of comparativelysimple construction, and it includes means for preventing a person frompulling out the next ticket in line for dispensing bymeans of aninstrument inserted into thevending'slot. It also includes means forpreventing aperson from inserting the required coins and then gettingout more than one ticket.

The presentmachine is such that when the required coins are insertedinto the coin slide, the latter is shoved inwardly as far as possible tocock the machine. When the slide is moved outwardly towards its normalposition,.atieket is moved out of thedispensing slot. If the slide ismoved outwardly far enough to enable the next ticket to be drawn out ofthe machine, the latter cannot be cocked again until the propercoins areinserted .into the slide.

A ticket vending machine according to the present invention comprisesa:freely-mounted dispensing shaft having sprocket means thereon forengaging tickets and sequentially moving these, upon rotation of theshaft in a dispensing direction, operating means for intermittentlyengaging and rotating the shaft, each rotation of the shaft beingsufficient to dispense one ticket, latching means for releasablyengaging the shaft if the latter is rotated in the dispensing directionby a pull on FIG. 6 is a vertical fragmentary section taken on the line66 of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sections taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2 showinginside elevation an index or ratchet I disc in two different positions,the background elements being omitted,

FIG. 9 isa section taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 2 showing in sideelevation only, a -control arm and associated cam in the normalpositions thereof,

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the arm and cam in differentpositions, and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the through. A fixedflap 18 is secured atan upper end to the outer surface of plate 12 andextending downwardly over but spaced outwardly from slot 15 to preventdirect access to said slot. Ticket web 17 rests on a tray 20 locatedbelow the vending mechanism but within the cabinet or casing thereof.The tickets are connected end to end and are alternately folded in astack on the tray. Theticketsof web 17 have perforations 21 adjacent andextending along opposite edge thereof. A pair of spaced-apartwalls 22and 23 are secured to and extend inwardly from front plate 12. Web 17extends upwardly from tray 20 between a pair of closely spaced guideplates 28 and 29 which are curved at 30 arid'extend towards slots 15.,Upper plate 28 has When it isoperated,the device stamps the ticketready to be dispensed. I

the ticket to prevent sufficient movement to dispense v the ticket, andreleasing means operated by said operating means to release the shaft topermit the rotation by said operating means.

A preferred form of vending machine in accordance with this invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a sideelevation of the ticket vending machine,

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view of the inner end of the machine,

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, showingthe operating slide in its outer or inoperative position,

, FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with the operating slide inits inner or operating position,

A dispensing shaft 39 is freely mounted in suitable bearings in supportplates 22 and 23, and extends be yond plate 23 to another vertical wallor support plate 40 mounted on and extending inwardly fromface plate 12.A pair of sprockets 43 are fixedly mounted onshaft 39 and projectupwardly through apair of elongated openings 44 in upper guide plate 28,and are positioned to engage the perforations 21 0f the ticket web 17 asthe latter passes between guide plates 28 and 29. Rotation of shaft 39and sprockets 44 moves the ticket web to shift a ticket 16 out of themachine through slot 15.

Operating means for the machine includes a standard coin releasemechanism 48 mounted on face plate 12 spaced below shaft 39. The coinrelease mechanism has a slide 49 with one or more coin-receiving holes50 therein. Slide 49 has a handle 52 at itsouter end. Mechanism 48doesnot require description herein since it is standard and does notform part of the present invention, but it such that when the requiredcoins are inserted in holes 50, slide 49 can be moved inwardly,otherwise said slide cannot be shifted inwardly.

An operating slide 55 is secured to or forms part of coin slide 49 andmoves with the latter. Slide 55 forms part of operating means formachine and is connected, as described below, to a shaft drive linkageincluding a pull bar or arm 58, rocker arm 60, and an index or ratchetdisc 62 secured on the shaft 39.

Pull bar 58 has an elongated slot 65 near its lower end into which a pinor bolt 66 slidably extends from an upright standard 67 which is fixedto and projects upwardly from operating slide 55. The upper end of bar58 has a pin or bolt 70 which extends laterally therefrom into a slot 71in the upper end of rocket arm 60, said arm being freely mounted onshaft 39 substantially midway between the ends of the arm. A spring 74freely surrounds shaft 39 and is connected at one end to support plate40 and at its opposite end to rocker arm 60, this spring biasing the armin a clockwise direction against a stop 75 mounted on plate 12.

Disc 62 has ratchet teeth 76a, 76b and 76c on a face thereof, each ofthese teeth having an incline 77 leading up to a shoulder 78 whichextends substantially normally to the adjacent face of the disc, seeFIGS. 7 and 8. A spring-loaded plunger 80 is carried by rocker arm 60near its lower end, and extends towards disc 62 to engage the facethereof from which teeth 76 project. FIG. 7 shows position of plunger 80relative to the ratchet teeth of disc 62 when the machine is in theatrest position, while FIG. 8 shows the disc after it has been rotated alittle during cocking of the mechanism and the new position of theplunger.

A micro-switch 84 is mounted on support plate 23 and has a dependingoperating lever 85 which is normally in the switch-open position. Switch84 is electrically connected so that when it is closed, stamping device36 is operated to stamp the date and time on the ticket between guideplates 28 and 29 and which is the next one to be dispensed.

A rocker 88 is mounted on a shaft 89 and hangs downwardly therefrom,said rocker having a foot 90 which is positioned to engage switch lever85 when the lower end of said rocker is swung inwardly of machine 10. Aspring 91 is connected to foot 90 and extends upwardly therefrom and hasits opposite end connected to an extension 92 which projects inwardlyfrom the inner end of operating slide 55. When the slide is in itsnormal inoperative position, spring 91 is substantially vertical andretains rocker 88 in an inclined position, extending towards face plate12, as shown in FIG. 1. When slide 55 is moved inwardly to shift theupper end of spring 91 inwardly across a toggle line between the lowerend of the spring and shaft 89, rocker 88 is suddenly swung inwardly tomove lever 85 and operate switch 84. When this takes place, stampingdevice 36 stamps a ticket waiting to be dispensed. When slide 55 ismoved outwardly again, rocker 88 is swung in the same direction topermit switchlever 85 to move to open the switch.

When the required coins are inserted in holes 50 of coin slide 49, thelatter and operating slide 55 can be moved inwardly of machine 10. Thisswings the lower end of pull bar 58 inwardly and draws this bar in thesame direction to swing rocker arm 60 about shaft 39 into the positionshown in broken line in FIG. 6. This shifts plunger 80 across the faceof disc 62 ad up over tooth 76c into the position shown in FIG. 8. Thiscocks the machine. At the same time, the movement of the slide 55 causesstamping device 36 to stamp the ticket ready to be dispensed, asdescribed above, When the coin slide is drawn outwardly, and this actionis assisted by a spring 95 which has one end connecteddo face plate 12and its opposite end connected to a bolt 96 projecting upwardly from theinner end of operating slide 55, bar 58 is shifted outwardly and causesrocker arm 60 to swing back to its normal position, spring 74 assistingthis action. When this takes place, plunger 80 engages disc tooth 76c torotate disc 62, and as this disc is fixed to shaft 39, the shaft rotateswith it. This rotation turns sprockets 44 to move the ticket 16 engagedthereby out through dispensing slot 15, at which time it can be torn offweb 17.

With the arrangement described so far, a person could insert aninstrument through slot 15 to grasp the next ticket in line fordispensing and pulling said ticket out of the machine, but suitablelatching means is provided for preventing this. This latching meansincludes a Y-shaped arin 102, cam 105, and stop member 108.

Arm 102 is swingably mounted on a pin 109 projecting laterally fromsupport plate 23, and consists of a downwardly-projecting lever 110 andtwo upwardlyprojecting members 111 and 112. A spring 113 normally biaseslever 1100f arm 102 in an anti-clockwise direction towards face plate 12into a normal at-rest position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. The uppermembers 111 and 112 of Y-arm 102 have pins 115 and 116, respectively,projecting laterally therefrom into the path of cam 105. Another pin 117projects laterally from arm 102 just below pin 116.

Cam 105 is fixedly mounted on shaft 39 to rotate therewith. This cam hasthree projections 1200, 120b and 1200 radiating therefrom and spacedl20apart around the cam circumference. These projections extend into thegeneral plane or path of pins 1 15, 116 and 117.

Stop member 108 consists of a bent arm pivotally mounted in a bracketprojecting from side plate 23,, see FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The stop memberarm has a stop end 126 and an opposite inclined end 127 against which anend of a leaf spring 128 bears. This leaf spring is mounted on wall 23at 129, and it presses inclined end 127 of the stop arm outwardly fromthe wall so as to normally maintain stop end 126 against said wall, atwhich time it is in the path of the lower end or lever 110 of arm 102.

The latching means of apparatus 10 normally prevents rotation of shaft39, and suitable releasing means is provided to disengage the latchingmeans and thereby permit rotation of the shaft. This releasing meansincludes a release plate mounted on the upper surface of operating slide55 and extending longitudinally of said slide, see FIGS. 4 and 5. Thisplate has a finger I36 projecting laterally therefrom so that it canengage arm 102 when the slide is moved inwardly sufficiently to cock thedispensing means. A pin 137 projects upwardly from release plate 135near the end thereof remote from finger 136, this pin being in line withthe inclined end 127 of stop member 108.

FIG. 9 shows arm 102 retained in its normal position by spring 113, atwhich time pin 115 is against projection 120a of cam 105 so that thelatter cannot be rotated. This prevents rotation of shaft 39, therebypreventing the drawing of a ticket 16 through dispensing slot 15. Whencoin slide 49 is moved inwardly with the coins in holes 50, operatingslide 55 and release plate 135 move in the same direction. When pin 137engages the inclined end 127 of stop member 108, this inclined end isswung inwardly against the bias of spring 128 to shift stop end 126 outof the path of lever 110 of arm 102 so that the latter is free to moveto the position shown in FIG. 10. This shifts pin 115 out of the path ofcam projection 120a so that the cam and shaft 39 can now be rotated. Atthe same time, pin 116 engages projection 120:: to rotate cam 105 andtherefore shaft 39 about 40 to cause the end of the ticket to projectfrom slot 15. This action rotates disc 62 to the position shown in FIG.8. However, pin 117 of arm 102 being in line with projection 12% of thecam prevents the latter projection from reaching and moving pin 116.When the coin slide is drawn outwardly or moves outwardly under theaction of spring 95, spring 113 returns arm 102 to its normal position,at which time pin 115 has passed cam projection 120a and is in line withprojection 120C to prevent further rotation of the shaft so that onlyone ticket is dispensed at a time. As arm 102 returned to its normalposition, pins 116 and 117 were shifted out of the path of camprojection 120b to permit the rotation of the cam and the shaft, therebycausing the rest of the ticket to be moved through slot 15. However,pins 116 and 117 are not clear of projection 12% until arm 102 has swungoutwardly sufficiently to clear stop 126 to allow spring 128 to shiftthisstop back into the path of arm 102. This outward movement of theslide is so far that release mechanism 48 prevents it from being movedinwardly again until additional coins are inserted into the coinslidekWhen pin 115 returns to its normal position it engages the nextcam projection 120a. If projection 1205 had been allowed to swing aroundto engage the back of projection 120e, pin 115, in engaging the front ofsaid projection 1200, would rotate cam 105 and shaft 39 backwards alittle, and this could cause trouble with the ticket web 17.

Ha person were able to grip the ticket lying between guide plates 28 and29 and attempted to draw it out through slot 15, cam projection 120abearing against pin 115 would cause arm 102 to start to swing inwardly,but it would only'move until itengages stop end 126 of stop member 108.This permits only a small movement of the ticket which is not sufficientto enable the whole ticket to be drawn out of the machine.

I claim: 7

1. A ticket vending machine, comprising a rotatably mounted dispensingshaft sprocket means mounted on the shaft. for engaging cooperablyperforated tickets and dispensing said tickets upon rotation of theshaft operating means adapted to 'be freed by insertion of a coin formovement from a first position to a second position,

latching means connected between said shaft and operating means forlatching said shaft against rotation in response to movement of theoperating means to the first position and for releasing said shaft forrotation in response to movement of the operating means to the secondposition, and

shaft drive means connected between said shaft and operating means forcausing sufficient unidirectional rotation of the shaft to dispense aticket clear of the sprocket means during sequential movement of theoperating means from the first position to the second position and thenfrom the second position to the first position.

2. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saidoperating means comprises, 1

a. a coin-freed operating slide movable between an inoperative firstposition and a cocking second po- 5 sition, and said shaft-drive meanscomprises b. a ratchet connected for rotation of said shaft to dispensea ticket when operated in one direction and for movement free of theshaft when operated in an opposite direction, and

10 c. connecting means between the slide and the ratchet to operate theratchet when the slide moves from the cocking position to theinoperative position.

I 5 3. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 2 in which saidratchet comprises,

a. a disc fixedly mounted on the shaft and having ratchet teethprojecting therefrom, having shoulders thereon engageable to rotate thedisc and the shaft in the V b. a rocker arm freely mounted on the shaftbeside the disc, and

c. a plunger on the rocker arm at one end thereof and biased towards thedisc for engaging said teeth and rotating the disc and the shaft in theticket dispensing direction, said connecting means being connected tothe arm near an opposite end thereof, whereby swinging movement of thearm duringmovement of the slide towards the cocking position causes saidplunger to ride overthe teeth, and movement of the slide towards theinoperative position causes the plunger to engage one of said shouldersand rotate the disc.

4. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 3 ineluding a. springmeans connected to the operating slide and biasing said slide towardsthe inoperative position, and

b. spring means connected to the rocker arm and biasing said arm tocause the plungerto engage a ratchet tooth shoulder.

5. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said latchingmeans comprises,

a. a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft and having projections radiatingtherefrom,

b. a control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam and having a nonnalat-rest position, and

c. pin means on the controlarm and in the path of the cam projectionsand normally preventing rotation of the cam, said pin means when thecontrol arm is swung out of its at-rest position permitting the cam torotate a limited distance only and when said arm is swung back to theat-rest position permitting the cam to rotate sufficiently to allow saidshaft to rotate completely to dispense a ticket.

6. A ticket vending machine as claimed'in claim 5 in cluding springmeans biasing said control arm towards its at-rest position.

7. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 5 in which said pinmeans comprises,

a. a first pin normally near and in front of a cam projection, withreference to the direction of rotation of the cam, when the control armis in the at-rest position, and

b. a second pin behind and normally spaced from the cam projectionfollowing said projection of the first pm, said first pin moving out ofthe path of the adjacent cam projection and said second pin movingtowards its adjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from theat-rest position.

8. A ticket vending machine' as claimed in claim 7 in which said pinmeans includes a third pin normally between said second pin and the camprojection behind said cam projection ahead of the second pin.

9. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said latchingmeans comprises,

a. a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft and having projections radiatingtherefrom,

b. a Y-shaped control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam and havinga normal at-rest position, said arm being formed with a lever at one endand spaced-apart members projecting from its opposite end, the swingablemounting of the arm being between said lever end and said members,

c. a first pin on one of said members normally near and in front of acam projection, with reference to the direction of rotation of the cam,when the control arm is in the at-rest position, and

id. a second pin on the other of said members and behind and normallyspaced from the cam projection following said projection of the firstpin, said pins being in the path of the cam projections and normallypreventing rotation of the cam, and said first pin moving out of thepath of the adjacent cam projection and said second pin moving towardsits adjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from the at-restposition.

10. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 9 including a third pinon said other of the members in the path of the cam projections andnormally between said second pin and the cam projection behind said camprojection ahead of the second pin.

11. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 5 including a stopmember positioned normally to pre-.

vent said control arm from moving more than a limited distance from itsat-rest position.

12. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 9 including a stopmember in line with said lever end and positioned normally to preventsaid control arm from moving more than a limited distance from itsat-rest position.

13. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saidoperating means comprises,

a. a coin-freed operating slide movable between an inoperative firstposition and a cocking second position, said shaft drive meanscomprises,

b. a ratchet connected for rotation of said shaft to dispense a ticketwhen operated in one direction and for movement free of the shaft whenoperated in an opposite direction,

c. connecting means between the slide and the ratchet to operate theratchet when the slide moves from the cocking position to theinoperative position;

and said latching means comprises,

d. a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft and having projections radiatingtherefrom,

e. a control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam and having anormalat-rest position, said control arm being swung away from the at-restposition and back thereto respectively when the operating slide is movedtowards the cocking position and back to its inoperative position, and

f. pin means on the control arm and in the path of the cam projectionsand normally preventing rotation of the cam, said pin means when thecontrol am is swung out of its at-rest position permitting the cam torotate a limited distance only and when said arm is swung back to theat-rest position permitting the cam to rotate sufficiently to allow saidshaft to rotate completely to dispense a ticket.

14. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 13 including springmeans bising said control arm towards its at-rest position.

15. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 13 in which said pinmeans comprises,

a. a first pin normally near and in front of a cam projection, withreference to the direction of rotation of the cam, when the control armis in the at-rest position, and

b. a second pin behind and normally spaced from the cam projectionfollowing said projection of the first pm, said first pin moving out ofthe path of the adjacent cam projection and said second pin moving to,-wards its adjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from theat-rest position.

16. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 15 in which said pinmeans includes a third pin normally between said second pin and the camprojection behind said cam projection ahead of the second pin.

17. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saidoperating means comprises,

a. a coin-freed operating slide movable between a inoperative firstposition and a cocking second position,

b. a ratchet connected for rotation of said shaft to dispense a ticketwhen operated in one direction and for movement free of the shaft whenoperated in an opposite direction,

c. connecting means between the slide and the ratchet to operate theratchet when the slide moves from the cocking position to theinoperative position; and said latching means comprises,

d. a Y-shaped control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam and havinga normal at-rest position, said arm being formed with a lever at one endand spaced-apart members projecting from its opposite end, the swingablemounting of the arm being between said lever end and said members, saidcontrol arm being swung away from the at-rest position and back theretorespectively when the operating slide is moved towards the cockingposition and back to its inoperative position,

e. a first pin on one of said members normally near and in front of acam projection, with reference to the direction of rotation of the cam,when the control arm is in the at-rest position, and

f. a second pin on the other of said members and behind and normallyspaced from the cam projection following said projection of the firstpin, said pins being in the path of the cam projections and normallypreventing rotation of the cam, and said first pin moving out of thepath of the adjacent cam projection and said second pin moving towardsits adjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from the at-restposition.

18. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 13 including, 1

a. a movable stop member aligned with the control arm and positionednormally to prevent said control arm from moving more than a limiteddistance from its at-rest position, and

b. means on the operating slide to move said stop member out ofalignment with the control arm when the slide is moved towards thecocking position.

19. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 17 including,

a. a movable stop member normally in line with said lever end andpositioned to prevent said control arm from moving more than a limiteddistance from its at-rest position, and

b. means on the operating slide to move said stop member out ofalignment with the lever end when the slide is moved towards the cockingposition.

20. A ticket vending machine comprising,

a. a rotatably mounted dispensing shaft having sprocket means thereonfor engaging and dispensing cooperably perforated tickets upon rotationof the shaft,

b. a coin-freed operating slide movable between an inoperative firstposition and a cocking second position,

c. a ratchet connected for rotation of said shaft to dispense a ticketwhen operated in one direction and for movement free of the shaft whenoperated in an opposite direction,

d. connecting means between the slide and the ratchet to operate theratchet when the slide moves from the cocking position to theinoperative position,

e. a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft and having projections radiatingtherefrom,

f. a control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam and having a normalat-rest position, said control arm being swungaway from the at-restposition and back thereto respectively when the operating slide is movedtowards the cocking position and back to its inoperative position, and

g. pin means on the control arm and in the path of the cam projectionsand normally preventing rotation of the cam, said pin means when thecontrol arm is swung out of its at-rest position permitting the cam torotate a limited distance only and when said arm is swung back to theat-rest position permitting the cam to rotate sufficiently' to allowsaid shaft to rotate completely to dispense a ticket.

21. A ticket vending machine comprising,

a. a rotatably mounted dispensing shaft having sprocket means thereonfor engaging and dispensing cooperably perforated tickets upon rotationof the shaft,

b. a coin-freed operating slide :movable between an inoperative firstposition and a cocking second position,

c. a ratchet disc fixedly mounted on the shaft and having ratchet teethprojecting therefrom,

d. a rocker arm freely mounted on the shaft beside the disc,

e. a plunger on the rocker arm at one end thereof and biased towards thedisc for engaging said teeth and rotating the disc and the shaft in theticket dispensing direction,

f. connecting means between the slide and the ratchet to operate theratchet when the slide moves from the cocking position to "theinoperative position,

said connecting means being connected to the arm near an opposite endthereof, whereby swinging movement of the arm during movement of theslide towards the cocking position causes said plunger to ride over theteeth, and movement of the slide towards the inoperative position causesthe plunger to engage one of said shoulders and rotate the disc,

g. a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft and having projections radiatingtherefrom,

h. a Y-shaped control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam and havinga normal at-rest position, said arm being formed with a lever at one endand spaced-apart members projecting from its opposite end, the swingablemounting of the arm being between said lever end and said members,

. a first pin on one of said members normally near and in front of a camprojection, with reference to the direction of rotation of the cam, whenthe control arm is in the at-rest position,

j. a second pin on the other of said members and behind and normallyspaced from the cam projection following said projections of the firstpin,

k. a third pin on said other of the members normally between said secondpin and the cam projection behind said cam projection ahead of thesecond pm, said pins being in the path of the cam projections andnormally preventing rotation of the cam, and said' first pin moving outof the path of the adjacent cam projection and said second pin movingtowards its adjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from theatrest position,

. a movable stop member normally in line with said lever end andpositioned to prevent said control arm from moving more than a limiteddistance from its at-rest position, and

m. means on the operating slide to move said stop member out ofalignment with the lever end when the slide is moved towards the cockingposition.

i t t t

1. A ticket vending machine, comprising a rotatably mounted dispensingshaft sprocket means mounted on the shaft for engaging cooperablyperforated tickets and dispensing said tickets upon rotation of theshaft operating means adapted to be freed by insertion of a coin formovement from a first position to a second position, latching meansconnected between said shaft and operating means for latching said shaftagainst rotation in response to movement of the operating means to thefirst position and for releasing said shaft for rotation in response tomovement of the operating means to the second position, and shaft drivemeans connected between said shaft and operating means for causingsufficient unidirectional rotation of the shaft to dispense a ticketclear of the sprocket means during sequential movement of the operatingmeans from the first position to the second position and then from thesecond position to the first position.
 2. A ticket vending machine asclaimed in claim 1 in which said operating means comprises, a. acoin-freed operating slide movable between an inoperative first positionand a cocking second position, and said shaft drive means comprises b. aratchet connected for rotation of said shaft to dispense a ticket whenoperated in one direction and for movement free of the shaft whenoperated in an opposite direction, and c. connecting means between theslide and the ratchet to operate the ratchet when the slide moves fromthe cocking position to the inoperative position.
 3. A ticket vendingmachine as claimed in claim 2 in which said ratchet comprises, a. a discfixedly mounted on the shaft and having ratchet teeth projectingtherefrom, having shoulders thereon engageable to rotate the disc andthe shaft in the b. a rocker arm freely mounted on the shaft beside thedisc, and c. a plunger on the rocker arm at one end thereof and biasedtowards the disc for engaging said teeth and rotating the disc and theshaft in the ticket dispensing direction, said connecting means beingconnected to the arm near an opposite end thereof, whereby swingingmovement of the arm during movement of the slide towards the cockingposition causes said plunger to ride over the teeth, and movement of theslide towards the inoperative position causes the plunger to engage oneof said shoulders and rotate the disc.
 4. A ticket vending machine asclaimed in claim 3 including a. spring means connected to the operatingslide and biasing said slide towards the inoperative position, and b.spring means connected to the rocker arm and biasing said arm to causethe plunger to engage a ratchet tooth shoulder.
 5. A ticket vendingmachine as claimed in claim 1 in which said latching means comprises, a.a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft and having projections radiatingtherefrom, b. a control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam andhaving a normal at-rest position, and c. pin means on the control armand in the path of the cam projections and normally preventinG rotationof the cam, said pin means when the control arm is swung out of itsat-rest position permitting the cam to rotate a limited distance onlyand when said arm is swung back to the at-rest position permitting thecam to rotate sufficiently to allow said shaft to rotate completely todispense a ticket.
 6. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 5including spring means biasing said control arm towards its at-restposition.
 7. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 5 in whichsaid pin means comprises, a. a first pin normally near and in front of acam projection, with reference to the direction of rotation of the cam,when the control arm is in the at-rest position, and b. a second pinbehind and normally spaced from the cam projection following saidprojection of the first pin, said first pin moving out of the path ofthe adjacent cam projection and said second pin moving towards itsadjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from the at-restposition.
 8. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 7 in whichsaid pin means includes a third pin normally between said second pin andthe cam projection behind said cam projection ahead of the second pin.9. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said latchingmeans comprises, a. a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft and havingprojections radiating therefrom, b. a Y-shaped control arm swingablymounted adjacent the cam and having a normal at-rest position, said armbeing formed with a lever at one end and spaced-apart members projectingfrom its opposite end, the swingable mounting of the arm being betweensaid lever end and said members, c. a first pin on one of said membersnormally near and in front of a cam projection, with reference to thedirection of rotation of the cam, when the control arm is in the at-restposition, and d. a second pin on the other of said members and behindand normally spaced from the cam projection following said projection ofthe first pin, said pins being in the path of the cam projections andnormally preventing rotation of the cam, and said first pin moving outof the path of the adjacent cam projection and said second pin movingtowards its adjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from theat-rest position.
 10. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 9including a third pin on said other of the members in the path of thecam projections and normally between said second pin and the camprojection behind said cam projection ahead of the second pin.
 11. Aticket vending machine as claimed in claim 5 including a stop memberpositioned normally to prevent said control arm from moving more than alimited distance from its at-rest position.
 12. A ticket vending machineas claimed in claim 9 including a stop member in line with said leverend and positioned normally to prevent said control arm from moving morethan a limited distance from its at-rest position.
 13. A ticket vendingmachine as claimed in claim 1 in which said operating means comprises,a. a coin-freed operating slide movable between an inoperative firstposition and a cocking second position, said shaft drive meanscomprises, b. a ratchet connected for rotation of said shaft to dispensea ticket when operated in one direction and for movement free of theshaft when operated in an opposite direction, c. connecting meansbetween the slide and the ratchet to operate the ratchet when the slidemoves from the cocking position to the inoperative position; and saidlatching means comprises, d. a cam fixedly mounted on the shaft andhaving projections radiating therefrom, e. a control arm swingablymounted adjacent the cam and having a normal at-rest position, saidcontrol arm being swung away from the at-rest position and back theretorespectively when the operating slide is moved towards the cockingposition and back to its inoperative position, and f. pin means on thecontrol arm and in the path oF the cam projections and normallypreventing rotation of the cam, said pin means when the control arm isswung out of its at-rest position permitting the cam to rotate a limiteddistance only and when said arm is swung back to the at-rest positionpermitting the cam to rotate sufficiently to allow said shaft to rotatecompletely to dispense a ticket.
 14. A ticket vending machine as claimedin claim 13 including spring means biasing said control arm towards itsat-rest position.
 15. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 13 inwhich said pin means comprises, a. a first pin normally near and infront of a cam projection, with reference to the direction of rotationof the cam, when the control arm is in the at-rest position, and b. asecond pin behind and normally spaced from the cam projection followingsaid projection of the first pin, said first pin moving out of the pathof the adjacent cam projection and said second pin moving towards itsadjacent cam when the control arm is swung away from the at-restposition.
 16. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 15 in whichsaid pin means includes a third pin normally between said second pin andthe cam projection behind said cam projection ahead of the second pin.17. A ticket vending machine as claimed in claim 1 in which saidoperating means comprises, a. a coin-freed operating slide movablebetween an inoperative first position and a cocking second position, b.a ratchet connected for rotation of said shaft to dispense a ticket whenoperated in one direction and for movement free of the shaft whenoperated in an opposite direction, c. connecting means between the slideand the ratchet to operate the ratchet when the slide moves from thecocking position to the inoperative position; and said latching meanscomprises, d. a Y-shaped control arm swingably mounted adjacent the camand having a normal at-rest position, said arm being formed with a leverat one end and spaced-apart members projecting from its opposite end,the swingable mounting of the arm being between said lever end and saidmembers, said control arm being swung away from the at-rest position andback thereto respectively when the operating slide is moved towards thecocking position and back to its inoperative position, e. a first pin onone of said members normally near and in front of a cam projection, withreference to the direction of rotation of the cam, when the control armis in the at-rest position, and f. a second pin on the other of saidmembers and behind and normally spaced from the cam projection followingsaid projection of the first pin, said pins being in the path of the camprojections and normally preventing rotation of the cam, and said firstpin moving out of the path of the adjacent cam projection and saidsecond pin moving towards its adjacent cam when the control arm is swungaway from the at-rest position.
 18. A ticket vending machine as claimedin claim 13 including, a. a movable stop member aligned with the controlarm and positioned normally to prevent said control arm from moving morethan a limited distance from its at-rest position, and b. means on theoperating slide to move said stop member out of alignment with thecontrol arm when the slide is moved towards the cocking position.
 19. Aticket vending machine as claimed in claim 17 including, a. a movablestop member normally in line with said lever end and positioned toprevent said control arm from moving more than a limited distance fromits at-rest position, and b. means on the operating slide to move saidstop member out of alignment with the lever end when the slide is movedtowards the cocking position.
 20. A ticket vending machine comprising,a. a rotatably mounted dispensing shaft having sprocket means thereonfor engaging and dispensing cooperably perforated tickets upon rotationof the shaft, b. a coin-freed operating slide movable between aninopeRative first position and a cocking second position, c. a ratchetconnected for rotation of said shaft to dispense a ticket when operatedin one direction and for movement free of the shaft when operated in anopposite direction, d. connecting means between the slide and theratchet to operate the ratchet when the slide moves from the cockingposition to the inoperative position, e. a cam fixedly mounted on theshaft and having projections radiating therefrom, f. a control armswingably mounted adjacent the cam and having a normal at-rest position,said control arm being swung away from the at-rest position and backthereto respectively when the operating slide is moved towards thecocking position and back to its inoperative position, and g. pin meanson the control arm and in the path of the cam projections and normallypreventing rotation of the cam, said pin means when the control arm isswung out of its at-rest position permitting the cam to rotate a limiteddistance only and when said arm is swung back to the at-rest positionpermitting the cam to rotate sufficiently to allow said shaft to rotatecompletely to dispense a ticket.
 21. A ticket vending machinecomprising, a. a rotatably mounted dispensing shaft having sprocketmeans thereon for engaging and dispensing cooperably perforated ticketsupon rotation of the shaft, b. a coin-freed operating slide movablebetween an inoperative first position and a cocking second position, c.a ratchet disc fixedly mounted on the shaft and having ratchet teethprojecting therefrom, d. a rocker arm freely mounted on the shaft besidethe disc, e. a plunger on the rocker arm at one end thereof and biasedtowards the disc for engaging said teeth and rotating the disc and theshaft in the ticket dispensing direction, f. connecting means betweenthe slide and the ratchet to operate the ratchet when the slide movesfrom the cocking position to the inoperative position, said connectingmeans being connected to the arm near an opposite end thereof, wherebyswinging movement of the arm during movement of the slide towards thecocking position causes said plunger to ride over the teeth, andmovement of the slide towards the inoperative position causes theplunger to engage one of said shoulders and rotate the disc, g. a camfixedly mounted on the shaft and having projections radiating therefrom,h. a Y-shaped control arm swingably mounted adjacent the cam and havinga normal at-rest position, said arm being formed with a lever at one endand spaced-apart members projecting from its opposite end, the swingablemounting of the arm being between said lever end and said members, i. afirst pin on one of said members normally near and in front of a camprojection, with reference to the direction of rotation of the cam, whenthe control arm is in the at-rest position, j. a second pin on the otherof said members and behind and normally spaced from the cam projectionfollowing said projections of the first pin, k. a third pin on saidother of the members normally between said second pin and the camprojection behind said cam projection ahead of the second pin, said pinsbeing in the path of the cam projections and normally preventingrotation of the cam, and said first pin moving out of the path of theadjacent cam projection and said second pin moving towards its adjacentcam when the control arm is swung away from the at-rest position, l. amovable stop member normally in line with said lever end and positionedto prevent said control arm from moving more than a limited distancefrom its at-rest position, and m. means on the operating slide to movesaid stop member out of alignment with the lever end when the slide ismoved towards the cocking position.